2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 3

Four students take an exam. Three of their scores are $70, 80,$ and $90$ . If the average of their four scores is $70$ , then what is the remaining score?

$\textbf{(A) }40\qquad\textbf{(B) }50\qquad\textbf{(C) }55\qquad\textbf{(D) }60\qquad \textbf{(E) }70$

Solution

We can call the remaining score $r$ . We also know that the average, 70, is equal to $\frac{70 + 80 + 90 + r}{4}$ . We can use basic algebra to solve for $r$ : $\frac{70 + 80 + 90 + r}{4} = 70$ $\frac{240 + r}{4} = 70$ $240 + r = 280$ $r = 40$ giving us the answer of $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 40}$ .

Solution 2

Since 90 is 20 more than 70 and 80 is ten more than 70, for 70 to be the average, the other number must be thirty less than 70, or $\boxed{\textbf{(A)}\ 40}$ .

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2016 AMC 8 Problems/Problem 3

Solution

Solution 2